Open carry is not legal in the state of Tennessee unless you have a Tennessee Handgun Carry Permit. Even with a permit, it is not common unless you are in rural areas.
Open carrying a loaded handgun is a vehicle is legal for those with or without a Tennessee Handgun Carry Permit.
Below are some Tennessee Code Annotated sections relative to where handguns cannot be carried. Disclaimer: This list is not intended to be legal advice and is not necessarily all inclusive.
Click here to access a free online version of The Tennessee Code. To find a particular statute, enter the statute number (i.e. 39-17-1351) into the search box at the top left of the page and click the ‘search’ button. That will give you a direct link to the statute you want to read.
- TCA 39-17-1306 – Carrying weapons during judicial proceedings.
- TCA 39-17-1309 – Carrying weapons on school property. Also see Attorney General Opinions 09-129 and 09-160.
- TCA 39-17-1321 – Possession of handgun while under influence.
- TCA 39-17-1359 – Prohibition at certain meetings — Posting notice.
- Attorney General Opinion 09-170 – Firearms on Leased Property.
- Note that handguns are also prohibited at airports, military institutions, and any other building/area prohibited by federal law.
For concealed carry information, visit our Tennessee concealed carry page.
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2/20/2019 – All information updated.
We try to keep the information on this page as up to date as possible but due to changing laws it is your responsibility to verify all information. The information on this page is for informational purposes only and not for the purpose of providing legal advice. You should contact your attorney to obtain advice with respect to any particular issue or problem. Use of and access to this Web site, emails or any of the links contained within the site do not create an attorney-client relationship between i156 LLC and the user or browser. The opinions expressed at or through this site are the opinions of the individual author and may not reflect the opinions of i156 LLC.
